The International Golf Federation (IGF) awarded the city of Antalya, Turkey,
the right to host the 2012 World Team Amateur Championships in Golf (WATC), its
largest event. The 2012 championship will be held at Gloria Club, PGA Sultan,
and Cornelia Golf Club Nick Faldo in Antalya.
Turkey was running against two other bids from Italy and Austria. Ahmet Agaoglu,
President of the Turkish Golf Federation said, “It is a great honour for us to
have been selected as a host for the 2012 edition of this great event”.
TravelShop Turkey will offer package tours, airport transfers, hotel
reservations, transfers to and from the World Team Amateur Championships,
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Golf in Turkey is growing extremely rapidly, and today’s success will add
tremendous momentum to this development. The country is already committed to
opening 100 new golf courses in the next 4 years. This encouragement follows on
from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators who earlier this year
voted Turkey as “the best Golf destination in Europe 2008”.
The World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) was founded in 1958 and is a
biennial event run by the International Golf Federation in conjunction with the
host nation’s governing body of golf. Over 100 men’s and women’s teams come from
all over the world to compete for the Eisenhower Trophy (men) and the Espirito
Santo Trophy (women) in one of three different zones: Asia/Pacific,
European/African and American.
Golf is said to be the game of nobles. Over a period of time, the game has
developed into a craze for players from all over the world. In 1958 The
International Golf Federation was instituted. The sole aim of the setting up of
this body was to promote awareness and game spirit among the people.
After decades the game has been widely played in almost 110 countries around the
globe. The federation has been recognized as the representative of the golf
sport by the International Olympic Committee. Though the federation does not
have a large organization, yet with the help and cooperation of national bodies
of many countries the federation has been successful in promotion of golf on a
wide scale.
The federation was renamed as World Amateur Golf Council in 2003. The sole
purpose of the federation is to organize the amateur competitions for men and
women after every two years. The body tried to get the golf included in 2012
Olympic Games but could not get it approved. However, the International Olympic
Committee has accepted it to be part of 2016 Olympic Games by 63 votes in favour
and only having 27 against the proposal.
Besides many other golf playing nations, the Turkey has come a very long way
ahead. Turkish Golf Federation was set up in 1996 with view to promote healthy
environment for promotion of golf in the country. The organization has provided
the unique playing and learning atmosphere to the young golfers by arranging
wonderful events in which thousands of amateur players from around the world
participated.
Since last fourteen years the federation has been able to organize around 70
tournaments at national and international levels. It has promoted number of
facilities, training infrastructure in the country. 4500 golfers are said to be
certified since then. Due to these restlessly pursued efforts Turkey has
achieved the status of most speedily emerging golf country in the Europe.
World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012 is announced to be held in Belek town,
Antalya, Turkey. This milestone achievement by the Turkish nation is clearly
indicative of the commitment showed by the Turkish people for the promotion of
golf in the country. 70 Million population is mainly comprised of young
generation who loves to watch and play golf as a sport. Holding of this mega
event will boost the efforts of federation in creating an healthy and conducive
environment for learning and witnessing of golf.
One estimate has predicted the participation of 1500 players in the
championship. Quite a large number of spectators are also expected to visit
Turkey during the competition. Successful arrangements of this mega event will
help the Turkish nation in attracting the world focus on her. This will also
provide the chance to the nations to come and witness the matches who are trying
to win the host status for next competitions.
For awarding of host responsibility of World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012
ballets were held at the International Golf Federation. Turkey has been able to
grab the host status by obtaining 76 votes out of total 92. This has been the
largest approval vote ratio achieved by any country for arranging the event.
Belek has been earmarked for the tournament by the authorities in Turkey. Belek
is called a dream city for the golfers. Turkish golf federation has the unique
honour to be the youngest body to manage such championship. For the competition
superb golf courses preparation are underway in Turkey.
Antalya, Turkey has been selected as the scene for the 2012 World Amateur Team
Championships, the International Golf Federation (IGF) confirmed after
conference. The 25th women's championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy & the
28th men's championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be held in September of
2012. The main motive for the choice of Turkish Golf Federation has been the
acknowledgement to the sustained and restless endeavours being put in by the
organization for the growth of this amazing sport in the country. The
advancement so far made has no match with any of the existing nations playing
golf. The other nations which place the bids to get the rights of hosting the
championship comprise Italy and Austria.
For the World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012 three state of the art courses
have been selected by the authorities. These are Cornelia Golf Club, Gloria Golf
Club and Antalya Golf Club in Belek town of the Mediterranean province of
Antalya.
Turkish golf federation president has expressed his joy over the decision. He
has articulated his sentiments in a very graceful manner. Due to this
championship, he expects that a great number of young golfers will pay attention
towards the game. The number of the golf courses is likely to take a giant leap
to increase every year. The Championship will be played with 72 holes stroke
play. Each team will consist of three amateur players. Now all eyes from around
the globe have been set on Turkey as to how the world youngest golf federation
is going to hold such mega event with success and valor.
Espirito Santo Trophy (Women): 27-30 September 2012
Gloria Golf Club (Old and New Courses)
Eisenhower Trophy (Men): 4-7 October 2012
Antalya Golf Club (PGA Sultan Course) and Cornelia Golf Club (Faldo Course)
Find more events at the
Events Calendar Turkey
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